Knot keeper



C. SELLMAN KNOT KEEPER Dec. 24, 1963 Filed July 6, 1962 INVENTOR. (laaa'e Silman.

United States Patent 3,114,950 KNOT KEEPER Claude Seliman, 14753 26th Ave. NE, Seattle, Wash. Filed July 6, 1962, Ser. No. 207,872 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-120) This invention relates generally to releasable clip devices, and more specifically to a spring loaded clipstructure for gripping adjacent opposite ends of a knot to prevent the same from becoming untied.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a simple and efiicient spring loaded clip which performs efficiently to grippingly engage over the end portions of a knot to prevent the same from becoming untied or loosened.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a knot keeper which is simple to apply and effectively overcomes any need for double knotting of tie strings.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spring loaded clip which is suitably bifurcated at its centre so as to effectively bridge the knot portion of tied strings or laces and frictionally retains the extending ends thereof to prevent the same from becoming inadvertently loosened.

A full understanding of the details of the invention, together with further advantages, will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the knot keeper cl-ip which comprises my invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the clip taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the clip shown engaged over a knot so as to grippingly retain the ends thereof in a secure manner.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 5 represents two U shaped jaws having parallel side edges 6 and downwardly extending arms 7 formed by a semi-circular opening 8 cut centrally into the lower edge 9 of each jaw. Each jaw has a (flat outer face 10 and is provided on its inner face with serrations 11 oriented in a radial pattern having a common centre located centrally of the lower edge 9. The serrations 11 on each of the jaws are adapted to mesh with each other so as to tightly grip lace or string which may extend therebetween.

The upper edge 12 of the jaws is provided with inwardly extending tabs 13 at each end and is also extended to form an outwardly sloping finger plate 14 of generally rectangular shape. When the jaws are assembled together the two finger plates diverge from each other as best seen in FIG. 1, of the drawing, and an aligned hole is formed through the tabs 13 so as to receive a pivot shaft 15 therethrough. A coiled spring 16 is mounted on the pivot shaft 15 intermediate the outwardly sloping finger plates and has protruding ends '17 which springingly engage against the inner sides of the finger plates so as to urge the jaws into a tightly closed relationship with each other.

FIG. 3, shows a knot 18 which may have outwardly extending bow portions 19. The knot keeper is engaged such that the knot 18 is disposed within the semi-circular opening 8 intermediate the arms 7 and the bow portions 19 of the knot are grippingly engaged between the jaws 5 so as to prevent the knot from becoming untied. The simplicity of operation will be quite apparent to the reader, and the use as above described will prevent any need for double knotting which can frequently result in very difficult and time consuming untying operations.

Having described the invention in a preferred form, it will be appreciated that some modifications may be made to the precise configuration, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, as defined by the following claim.

I claim:

A knot keeper comprising, in combination, a pair of substantially flat jaws each having a semi-circular opening formed in its lower edge and defining spaced apart arms, a pivot shaft hingedly connecting the upper ends of said jaws for limited hinged movement, a plurality of serrations formed in opposing faces of said jaws, finger plates diverging from the upper edges of said jaws and extending beyond said shaft, a coiled spring mounted upon said shaft intermediate said finger plates, said spring having protruding ends for urging said finger plates away from each other and causing said serrated faces to springingly embrace each other for clamping the outwardly directed ends and loops of a knot contained within said opening, said serrations extending radially from a common center disposed centrally of the lower edge of the jaw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 614,387 Hargis Nov. 15, 1898 670,027 Malmberg Mar. 19, 1901 886,792 Gayton May 5, 1908 1,900,613 Parker Mar. 7, 1933 1,946,561 Widerman Feb. 13, 1934 2,397,438 Schmid Mar. 26, 1946 2,637,329 Reiter May 5, 1953 2,703,444 Proth Mar. 8, 1955 

